After a year hiatus due to Covid, and seriously pondering if another year off due to the Delta Variant would be prudent, with masks in pockets and sanitizer packed we headed to the International Bazaar. Every year previously we have been given plates with a handle & cup holder. Not this year. I’m sure that financial concerns, supply issues and insecurity over the event being cancelled, the powers that be, went with a minimalist plan. No game tickets, just a punch card on the program back cover, no bags, no calendars, no frills.

We did not purchase a table this year, just individual tickets, but there were plenty of open tables on the outside that were less ~peopley~ so we claimed one and took turns making food runs to preserve our space.

The food vendors were very much the same as years past, some had new foods to taste, but most had the standard offerings. Sweet Martha’s had cookies, Poncho dogs had corn dogs, Big Dogs had the “St. Paul Dog” and the Corn Roast served corn. The spiciest were the bites from West Indies Soul Food, offering the chicken & beef patties and jerk wings.

Some old favorites had a new bite to taste. Dino’s had a new Greek stuffed ravioli. San Felipe offered a carnitas taco cone. Green Mill has a very salty, but tasty “pizza Lucy”. Juanita’s Fajitas gave us a taste of the Cuban sandwich that debuted at the 2019 fair.

I think the new taste I liked best was Sara’s debut Tipsy Pie flavor; Blue Raspberry Blitzed. It’s a fruit pie combo with apples, blueberries, raspberries and UV blue vodka. Yum! My favorite is still the sweet boozy blueberry lemon, but if you like a bit more tartness, this one is for you! 💙 I went to get one for me & one for Jack, but I ate them both before I even got a picture! Below are the flavors for this year.

We wandered back & forth from our staked out table, taking part in the raffle (no winners here), dodging bees and trying to stay hydrated in the 90° humidity. We did not get the handy carrying plates with cup holders this year, so my picture taking was limited as I needed both hands to carry stuff. Even two hands became problematic when holding food, napkins, my program, phone and I ordered wine & water. I promptly left the wine behind. (What was I thinking?) The nice bartenders at Shanghai’d Henri’s saved it for me ❤️. We did get one group shot. I typically have no problem asking a stranger to snap a quick photo…. but this year, I don’t want anyone else touching my phone. Terrible selfies will be the way it’s played this year!

I saw lots of dear friends, most of whom I only see once or twice a year… and here at the fair. The Theisens, Dave, Colleen & Danny et al, David & Cynthia, our church friends and talent show companions, Deb at Juanita’s (Danny was hiding… I mean working!!) and of course Sara (Tipsy Pies) my friend and now I can say former boss!

After we ate our fill, we wandered over so Michael could test his skill at the basketball game. He only wanted to win a prize in memory of Mom, who always won something and placed it on the ladder in the porch for any small kid, parking at the house, to claim during the 12 days of fun! The ladder is now at Mike’s house! We all offered up our program covers to get punched, but it only took two baskets and he won. I handed the extra ticket covers to some kids in line.

He won a super soft plush elephant! We all have enough basketballs from the last years!

We caught a glimpse of Fairborn & Fairchild, but again, not wanting anyone else to use my camera, I just took a pic from a distance. We’ll be seeing them often in the coming days. It might appear that one of the mascots is in need of ambulatory assistance, but sandwiched in between is an invisible elderly fair patron!

As the evening wound down, I waited in line to grab some cookies to go for Randy waiting at home. Who should be there but Sweet Martha herself filming her crew, working hard to keep up with demand.

We made our way out of the event and said our goodbyes, but “see you next week!” To Gayle. No idea who we’re looking at!

Jack & Michael decided they wanted to take advantage of the free Space Tower rides. I’m far too claustrophobic and don’t want to be trapped indoors with ~anybody~ currently, so Kathleen & I waited below.

After the second trip up and down, we all went for a walk to see if we could locate the benches.

Spoiler Alert: if you don’t want to know where the benches are, stop reading now and read the rest after the fair!

My friend David had clued me in to the locations, but it was fun to see for myself. We found Grammie’s first and she’d love the placement near the Horticulture Building.

Then we found Mom & Dad’s in front of Ye Olde Mill, but it was piled up with a bunch of other blue benches and far too close to the GOP booth. We picked it up and moved it down nearer the Tom Thumb Donuts at the other end of the Mill. I checked and the tape is still intact! We’re unsure if the benches will all get reshuffled, but for now, we all sat down to add some good mojo in hopes the bench would stay put, since now Mom & Dad & Grammie are kitty corner from each other!

The walk felt good after all the eating, despite the oppressive heat and humidity. Storms are supposed to roll in tomorrow and the weather outlook for the fair looks fantastic. We’ve been in a severe drought all summer and while we could use the rain, it looks like after the storms blow through, temps will regulate with highs in the 80’s and lows in the 60’s for much of the fair.

I’m writing this with excitement and trepidation as I think about what the fair will be like and how much I’ll be able to manage my re-entry anxiety. It’s been a long isolated 18 months and without mask mandates or required vaccines, the state fair is sure to be a super spreader event. I have new masks since I’ll be volunteering with kids at the Alphabet Forest for seven days, and other than to use a bathroom, and to pop into Ag/Hort on day one to see if Gayle wins another crop art blue ribbon, I don’t plan to go inside the buildings.

With the sale of our family homestead and annual fair parking access, I have contracted with one of Mom & Dads neighbors for in/out privileges for the full 12 days. It will be hard, sad, good, emotional, familiar and poignant to be back on Simpson St. after a two year absence.

I’ve also been struggling with severe plantar fasciitis for the past year so I know my days of clocking 20+K steps are most likely over, but with news that over 200 vendors are not returning, some buildings like the DNR will be closed for indoor viewing and there is a severe worker shortage (as everywhere), there may simply not be as much to see and do.

Who knows what this fair season will hold for me, but I’m going. I’ll be smart and as safe as I can, masked & vaccinated. It’s possible, my days will be shorter and I’ll be able to keep up with the blog daily…

Or not!